Stand for christmas-trees and the like.



E. E. RICE.

STAND FOR GHRISTMAS TREES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. RICE, OF NEW DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE OSBORNMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STAND FOR CHRISTMAS-TREES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. RICE, a citizen of the United States,resident of New Durham, county of Straflord, State of New Hampshire,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stands for Christmas-Treesand the Like, of which the following is a specification, the principleof the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which Ihave contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it fromother inventions.

This my present invention relates, as indi cated, to stands suitable forsupporting objects such as Christmas trees or the like. Said inventionis designed to provide a stand of this character that may be folded upinto convenient compass when not in use, but that, when desired, can bevery quickly put in operative condition; as well as a stand that shall,withal, be simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

To the accomplishment of the above and related ends said inventionconsists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention inay be used.

In said annexed drawing :--Figure 1 is a perspective view with its partsin operative position, of one approved form of my invention, the lowerportion or trunk of a Christmas tree being represented as supportedthereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such stand and tree section; Fig.3 is a similar side elevation of another, slightly modified, form of thedevice; Fig. 4 is a broken perspective view of my improved stand in itsfolded or inoperative position; Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of thebase plates forming a feature of the construction of such stand; Fig. 6is a similar detail view of the two forms of braces, respectively, shownin connection with such stand in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 7 is a brokencrosssection through the bottom base plate.

As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing justdescribed, the form of my invention there illustrated comprisesprimarily two vertically spaced base plates A A. These plates, see Figs.4- and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1907.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Serial No. 372,048.

5, such latter figure representing the upper thereof, are each formedwith three divergent portions or arms a and with a central aperture 64.Between the corresponding pairs of arms of these plates are mountedthree base members, or feet, B B B Of such base members the first, B, isrigidly secured between one pair of the plate portions or arms inquestion, see Fig. 4, whereas the two other members are pivotallymounted between the remaining pairs of arms, a single rivet 6 beingemployed in connection with each one for this purpose. The two members BB are thus seen to be free to assume the radially extending positionsshown in Fig. 1, or to be folded laterally against rigidly attachedmember B, as shown in Fig. 4-. The latter position, which is theinoperative position of the stand, represents the condition in which itwill be left when in storage or while being carried about. The other orextended positions of the base members are assumed only when it isdesired to render the device operative.

In order to render the stand more rigid when in such operative position,it is of course desirable that the two pivotally mounted base membersshould be secured against dislodgment from their radially extendingpositions. For the purpose of thus securing them, various means willsuggest themselves. One approved method, however, is that shown in Figs.1 and 2, and consists simply in providing the projecting arms with lugsor clips 04 that normally extend laterally and hence do not interferewith the pivotal movement of the base member in question, but that, whenthe latter occupy their extended positions, may be readily bent over, asby a blow of a hammer, and thus secure such members in place. Only onesuch clip need obviously be left projecting from each of the two arms inquestion, Fig. 4. In order to enable the stand to rest the more securelyupon the floor or other supporting surface, which is apt to presentinequalities, it is desirable that the respective base members B B Bhave but a single point of rest on such surface. To this end the pivotalaxes formed by the rivets Z), whereby the members are secured to thebase plates A A, are inclined from the perpendicular so that the centerof the stand in the extended or operative position of the members israised a slight distance above the floor, Figs. 2 and 3. Such raising ofthe center or base plate of the device above the supporting surface uponwhich it rests has the further result of providing room for theaccommodation of the pin 0, preferably consisting of a wire spike, thatis utilized to secure to the stand the base D of the tree, or otherobject to be supported, such nail being inserted, Figs. 2, 3 and 4,point upwardly through the central apertures 44 in the base plates A A.To assist in securing such object to the stand, and to steady the samethereon, a detachable lateral brace E is provided in connection witheach of base members B B B Such brace members preferably consist ofstraight sections of wire or light rod, one end 6 of which is adapted tobe seated in inwardly inclined apertures a in the upper faces of therespective base members, the other end 6 of which is recurved andpointed so as to be adapted to be driven in the stem of the tree orother object, Fig. 2. If desired, in stead of providing apertures in thebase members as described, such brace rods may be recurved at both endsand the lower end as well as the upper then secured in place by drivingthe same into the base members. This form E of brace is the one shown inFig. 3 and to the left in Fig. 6.

In, the alternative type of the device shown in Fig. 3, themodifications introduced, in addition to the slight variation in thebrace rod already referred to, consist, first, in the substitution of asquare headed lag screw 0 for the nail or spike C employed in the firstform of the device to engage the lower end of the tree. For thereception of the head of the screw a depression 0* of corresponding formand size is struck into bottom base plate A, as clearly shown in Fig. 7,by means of which the screw is held against turning, as by a wrench, andthe mounting of the device on the base of the tree thus facilitated. Thesecond modification in the form of the device shown in Fig. 3, consistsin the provision of catch means to engage base members B, B, B and holdthem in their outer or extended positions. To this end the arms of theupper base plate A are shortened and the point of pivotal attachment ofthe respective base members thereto moved more nearly to the end of thelatter. The arms of the lower base plate A, extending as theywill,therefore, beyond the ends of arms of the upper base plate, havetheir outer extremities a laterally curved, thereby providing an upperconvex face for the same. Each such arm end is provided with an aperture(0 adapted to engage with a projecting stud b on the under side of thecorresponding base member when the latter is swung across such baseplate portion. This modified form. of the device will thus be seen tohave the advantage not only being quite readily adjusted for use but ofbeing thereupon again returnable to its original inoperative or foldedcondition for the purpose of storage when any particular period of useis at an end.

The manner of operating, or rather using, my improved stand should notrequire further explanation than has already been given in connectionwith the description of the construction of the several forms of thedevice. From such description it should be equally obvious that thedevice offered not only has a considerable field of usefulness inconnection with the celebration of our chief annual holiday as asubstitute for soap boxes or like extemporized supports, but that, byreason of the fewness of its parts an d the simplicity of its operation,it need be but little more expensive than such crude make-shift means.At the same time its convenience, and particularly the knock-down orcollapsible feature of its construction should appeal it is thoughtalike to seller and purchaser.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismhereindisclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a stand for supporting Christmas trees and the like, thecombination of a base plate provided with means for attaching the lowerend of such tree thereto, and base members having their inner endspivotally secured to said base plate, said members being adapted in oneposition to extend radially from said plate and in another position tofold laterally against each other.

2. In a stand for supporting Christmas trees and the like, thecombination of a base plate provided with means for attaching the lowerend of such tree thereto, a base member rigidly attached to said baseplate, and other base members pivotally attached to said plate aboutaxes approximately at right angles thereto, whereby said members areadapted in one position to extend radially from said plate and inanother position to fold laterally against said rigidly attached member.

3. In a stand for supporting Christmas trees and the like, thecombination of a base plate provided with means for attaching the lowerend of such tree thereto, a base member rigidly attached to said baseplate, other base members pivotally attached to said plate about axesapproximately at right angles thereto, whereby said members are adaptedin one position to extend radially from said plate and in anotherposition to fold laterally against said rigidly attached member, and

means adapted to secure said pivotally attached members in theirradially disposed positions.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baseplate, one base member rigidly attached to said plate, and two otherbase members pivotally attached to said plate and respectively adaptedin one position to extend radially therefrom and in another position tofold laterally against said rigidly attached member, the pivotal axes ofsaid members being inclined so as to raise said plate above the plane ofthe outer ends of said'base members when the latter are extended.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a baseincluding radially divergent members, each of said members beingprovided on its upper face with an inwardly inclined opening, of bracemembers having their lower ends adapted to be inserted in said openingsand upper ends adapted for attachment to the object supported on thestand.

6. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination of a baseplate and a base member rigidly attached thereto, other base memberspivotally attached to said plate and respectively adapted in oneposition to extend radially therefrom and in another position to foldlaterally against said rigidly attached member, each of said membersbeing provided on its upper face with an inwardly inclined opening, andbrace members having lower ends adapted to be inserted in said openingsand upper ends bent and pointed for attachment to the object supportedon the stand.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of twovertically spaced base plates, each having three corresponding divergentportions or arms, a base member rigidly secured at its inner end betweenone pair of such arms, and other members respectively pivotally securedbetween the remaining pairs of arms, said last named members beingadapted to extend radially from said plates or to fold laterally againstsaid rigidly secured member as desired.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of twovertically spaced base plates, each having three corresponding divergentportions or arms, a base member rigidly secured at its inner end betweenone pair of such arms, other members respec tively pivotally securedbetween the remaining pairs of arms, said last named members beingadapted to extend radially from said plates or to fold laterally againstsaid rig idly secured member as desired, and means borne by the arms ofone of said plates adapted detachably to engage said pivotally securedmembers to retain the same in such first named position.

9. In a device of the character described,

the combination of two vertically spaced base plates, each having threecorresponding divergent portions or arms, a base member rigidly securedat its inner end between one pair of such arms, other membersrespectively pivotally secured between the remaining pairs of arms, saidlast named. members being adapted to extend radially from said plates orto fold laterally against said rigidly secured member as desired, and ashort projecting stud on the under side of each of said pivotallysecured members, the corresponding arms of the lower base plate beingprovided with apertures adapted to engage said studs respectively toretain said members in their radially extending positions.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of twovertically spaced base plates, each having three corresponding divergentportions or arms, a base member rigidly secured at its inner end betweenone pair of such arms, other members respectively pivotally securedbetween the remaining pairs of arms, said last named members beingadapted to extend radially from said plates or to fold laterally againstsaid rigidly secured member as desired, and a short projecting stud onthe under side of each of said pivotally secured members, thecorresponding arms of the lower base plate having their upper facestransversely convex and provided with apertures adapted to engage saidstuds respectively to retain said members in their radially extendingpositions.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of twovertically spaced base plates, each having three corresponding divergentportions or arms, a base member rigidly secured at its inner end betweenone pair of such arms, other members respectively pivotally securedbetween the remaining pairs of arms, said last named members beingadapted to extend radially from said plates or to fold laterally againstsaid rigidly secured member as desired, and a screw non-rotatably heldin one of said plates and having its point projecting upwardly toreceive the object to be supported.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of twovertically spaced base plates, each having three corresponding divergentportions or arms, a base member rigidly secured at its inner end betweenone pair of such arms, other members respectively pivotally securedbetween the remaining pairs of arms, said last named members beingadapted to extend radially from said plates or to fold laterally againstsaid rigidly secured member as desired, each of said base members beingprovided on its upper face with an inwardly inclined opening, rodshaving their lower ends adapted to be inserted in such openings andtheir upper ends recurved and pointed for attachment to the objectsupported on the stand, and means said plates or to fold laterallyagainst said rigidly secured member as desired, the lower of said platesbeing centrally formed with a recess and the upper of said plates withan opening above such recess, and a screw having its head non-rotatablyheld in such recess and its point projecting upwardly through suchopening.

Signed by me this 3rd day of May, 1907.v

EDlVARD E. RICE.

Attested by:

MARY ISRAEL, JNO. F. Ommnm.

